Employers Face June 1, 2024 Deadline to Comply with Lehigh County, Pennsylvania’s New Expansive Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

by Wendy Buckingham, Kevin Frankel, Haley Norwillo, William Simmons, Littler - JD Supra

The Lehigh County Human Relations Ordinance was enacted February 26, 2024, establishing county-specific non-discrimination requirements for employment, housing, education, health care and public accommodations. The ordinance also creates a Lehigh County Human Relations Commission charged with investigating and enforcing claims of discrimination. The ordinance becomes effective June 1, 2024.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/employers-face-june-1-2024-deadline-to-8816636/?origin=CEG

New Pennsylvania Legislation and Philadelphia Ordinance Amendment Tackle Pardoned Convictions, Expunged Records, and Negligent Hiring Liability

by William J. Simmons, Haley Norwillo - Littler

Pennsylvania and Philadelphia recently enacted changes that impact employer criminal background screening.

State Law

Enacted on December 14, 2023, and effective February 12, 2024, Pennsylvania’s House Bill No. 689 amends Pennsylvania law relating to the expungement of certain criminal record information and employer immunity when hiring individuals with expunged records. 

Read more: https://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-pennsylvania-legislation-and-philadelphia-ordinance-amendment

PHRC Asks Federal Court To Dismiss Lawsuit Filed By Uber

by Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

HARRISBURG, PA – On Wednesday, November 22, 2023, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Uber Technologies, Inc. against a former Driver who filed a complaint with the PHRC against Uber alleging discrimination due to Uber's overly-broad criminal background check procedures.

Read more: https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/pa-human-relations-commission-details.aspx?newsid=163

Pennsylvania looks to expunge criminal record of minors to 'get their lives back on track'

by Anthony Hennen, The Center Square - The Progress

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed criminal justice reforms meant to make it easier for people to reenter society after serving time in prison. Now, lawmakers are considering similar reforms for juvenile offenders.

As The Center Square previously reported, Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act passed in 2018 and has helped more than 1.2 million people seal their criminal records tied to misdemeanors. Lawmakers are currently considering extending it to low-level felonies for people who are believed highly unlikely to reoffend, and the original reform may go national as well.

Read more: https://www.theprogressnews.com/news/state/pennsylvania-looks-to-expunge-criminal-record-of-minors-to-get-their-lives-back-on-track/article_16ece3be-5a16-11ed-8cf3-8bf40a4e2528.html